Only two new expert dungeons every patch?

[Colorful]

From the translated Game Watch interview:

In addition to the Gold Saucer content, we're also working on implementing a totally new play style called "Sky Island Exploration," which is unlikely anything we've had before. However, we've always added three instanced dungeons in each patch before, but it will be two starting with the next patch. Instead of producing a bunch of similar type of content, we'd rather spread out the cost of our development to new types of content.

I'm not trying to create a thread saying this will be the end of the world, but I do think 2 dungeons is a small amount, and leaves little room for variety in terms of farming for the tomes. I understand spending your resources elsewhere, but the casual side of PvE content is sorely lacking as is, and the removal of one dungeon every major patch cycle isn't going to help.

I'm not sure what Yoshida means in reference to Sky Exploration (guess we'll learn more in the upcoming live letter), but unless that can replace that missing dungeon, and isn't restricted to FC airships, then I don't think it would make up for it.

I'd recommend reading the entire interview, it has quite a bit of interesting info.

[m3eansean]

You can probably count on it being FC restricted and grind heavy.

[AskaRay]

Maybe this new Sky Island Exploration has tomes as a reward?
Who knows... I'll probably go read the interview now since anything with "exploration" in it makes me very excited.

[Colorful]

You can probably count on it being FC restricted and grind heavy.

That's exactly what I'm worried about, in a small FC made up of a few friends and we don't exactly have 30 million gil just standing about to purchase the cheapest one currently available. Don''t want to have to abandon it and join another where it's not as "tight knit" if that's the saying. =l

[seraseth]

With all the posts with people asking for some diversity in the content, and not to be a higher level re-skin of 2.0, it's very nice to see that they are listening and developing new things as well.

[Gralna]

If they can actually pull off making the two duties per patch, more fun and original, I'm all for it. We'll just have to see how well implemented it is. Of course, no matter what they do, there will always be people who won't be happy with it.

[Colorful]

snip

Honestly if the dungeons had more varied environments rather than the same few colours pasted over and over (both Neverreap and Fractal), then it wouldn't be a problem, but as is neither of those dungeons are amazing in my opinion. If we got dungeons on the level of Pharos Sirius (I found it very visually appealing, challenging, and awesome music) I would not mind, but as of now I enjoy Fractal somewhat but have a strong dislike for Neverreap, taking the risk of making half of the available dungeons disliked by some doesn't seem like the greatest idea.

Later in the interview they state that instanced content is fairly easy/cheap to make, so I have to ask why content has to be cut, if anything I'd expect more. Is SE not using the increased profits on more development staff?

[Nekodar]

If it's going to be two dungeons, it would be nice if it's two brand new dungeons instead of one new and one old turned into hardmode.

[Starkbeaumont]

as long as "old" dungeons remain in expert roulette, not like it used to be, i dont really care. but still only having either one or the other, with the stupid one popping 9 out 10 times, is not very enjoyable...

[raelgun]

Not really wise gutting what is the biggest draw to mmos these days per patch by intent like this, you can still add varied content in snippets then gutting what is the main course to any mmos still running at the moment. Can't say people will stick around when they start to release less valid content per patch intentionally, theres already complaints on the lack of PVE content released, to release even less is just daft.